Modulatable thermoelectric device

Abstract

A thermoelectric device includes first and second legs extending continuously between first and second heat sources. The first and second legs respectively include first and second conducting elements and third and fourth conducting elements. The first and third conducting elements are adjacent and separated by an insulator. The second and fourth conducting elements are adjacent and separated by an insulator. The device also includes selection means enabling formation of a first thermocouple from the first and second conducting elements and formation of a second thermocouple from the third and fourth conducting elements.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A thermoelectric device comprising:
 first and second legs having first ends in contact with a first heat source and second ends in contact with a second heat source, 
 the first leg comprising first and third thermoelectric conducting elements extending continuously between the first heat source and the second heat source, 
 wherein the third thermoelectric conducting element is adjacent to the first thermoelectric conducting element and separated from the first thermoelectric conducting element by a first insulator; 
 the second leg comprising second and fourth thermoelectric conducting elements extending continuously between the first heat source and the second heat source, wherein the fourth thermoelectric conducting element is adjacent to the second thermoelectric conducting element and separated from the second thermoelectric conducting element by a second insulator; and 
 a selecting device configured to be in a first state to form a first thermocouple only from the first and second thermoelectric conducting elements and to be in a second state different from the first state to form of a second thermocouple different from the first thermocouple, from at least the third and fourth thermoelectric conducting elements. 
 
     
     
       2. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and third thermoelectric conducting elements are formed from materials having a first doping type, and the second and fourth thermoelectric conducting elements are formed from materials having a second doping type, the first and second doping types being different. 
     
     
       3. The device according to  claim 2 , wherein the selecting device comprise a movable connecting element on external surfaces of the first and second legs, the external surface of the first leg exposing the first and third thermoelectric conducting elements and the external surface of the second leg exposing the second and fourth thermoelectric conducting elements. 
     
     
       4. The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the first and third thermoelectric conducting elements are concentric cylinders and wherein the second and fourth thermoelectric conducting elements are concentric cylinders. 
     
     
       5. The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the movable connecting element comprises a central part made from deformable and electrically thermoelectric conducting material. 
     
     
       6. The device according to  claim 3 , wherein the movable connecting element comprises a first part in contact with the first leg and a second part in contact with the second leg, the first and second parts being movable with respect to one another. 
     
     
       7. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second thermoelectric conducting elements have a first cross-section and wherein the third and fourth thermoelectric conducting elements have a second cross-section, different from the first cross-section. 
     
     
       8. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first thermoelectric conducting element comprises two parts arranged on each side of the third thermoelectric conducting element and wherein the second thermoelectric conducting element comprises two parts arranged on each side of the fourth thermoelectric conducting element. 
     
     
       9. A thermoelectric device comprising:
 first and second legs having first ends in contact with a first heat source and second ends in contact with a second heat source, 
 the first leg comprising first and third thermoelectric conducting elements extending continuously between the first heat source and the second heat source, wherein the third thermoelectric conducting element is adjacent to the first thermoelectric conducting element and separated from the first thermoelectric conducting element by a first insulator; 
 the second leg comprising second and fourth thermoelectric conducting elements extending continuously between the first heat source and the second heat source, wherein the fourth thermoelectric conducting element is adjacent to the second thermoelectric conducting element and separated from the second thermoelectric conducting element by a second insulator; 
 wherein the first and second thermoelectric conducting elements have a first cross-section and wherein the third and fourth thermoelectric conducting elements have a second cross-section, different from the first cross-section; and 
 a selecting device is configured to be in a first state to form a first thermocouple from the first and second thermoelectric conducting elements and to be in a second state different from the first state to form of a second thermocouple different from the first thermocouple from the third and fourth thermoelectric conducting elements, the selecting device comprising:
 a first metal layer connecting the first and second thermoelectric conducting elements; 
 a second metal layer, electrically insulated from the first metal layer, connecting the third and fourth thermoelectric conducting elements; and 
 a switch to connect one or the other of the first and second metal layers in an electric circuit. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the first and third thermoelectric conducting elements are formed from materials having a first doping type, and the second and fourth thermoelectric conducting elements are formed from materials having a second doping type, the first and second doping types being different. 
     
     
       11. The device according to  claim 10 , wherein the selecting device comprise a movable connecting element on external surfaces of the first and second legs, the external surface of the first leg exposing the first and third thermoelectric conducting elements and the external surface of the second leg exposing the second and fourth thermoelectric conducting elements. 
     
     
       12. The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the first and third thermoelectric conducting elements are concentric cylinders and wherein the second and fourth thermoelectric conducting elements are concentric cylinders. 
     
     
       13. The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the movable connecting element comprises a central part made from deformable and electrically thermoelectric conducting material. 
     
     
       14. The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the movable connecting element comprises a first part in contact with the first leg and a second part in contact with the second leg, the first and second parts being movable with respect to one another. 
     
     
       15. The device according to  claim 9 , wherein the first thermoelectric conducting element comprises two parts arranged on each side of the third thermoelectric conducting element and wherein the second thermoelectric conducting element comprises two parts arranged on each side of the fourth thermoelectric conducting element.